4 Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Voice

We all know the importance of keeping our bones, muscles, and minds healthy. But have you ever stopped to think if you are keeping your voice healthy? Unhealthy habits can lead to voice changes such as hoarseness or breathiness, vocal fatigue, or even lesions on your vocal cords. Your voice is just like any other aspect of your body - you need to take care of it so it functions properly! Here are 4 tips for maintaining vocal hygiene in your day-to-day life.

STAY HYDRATED

Drink a minimum of 6-8 glasses of water a day. Take small sips throughout the day to ensure you maintain hydration. You can also stay hydrated by using a humidifier during dry times of the year, like winter.

AVOID IRRITANTS

Eliminate vocally irritating habits like smoking, drinking dehydrating substances like excess caffeine and alcohol, and eating acidic foods that are likely to cause reflux.

ELIMINATE BAD HABITS

Throat clearing or coughing are harsh on your vocal cords. Instead, try huffing or sniffing and swallowing to ease the urge to cough. Avoid taking your voice to the extreme. This means do not whisper or shout for long periods of time.

WARM UP YOUR VOICE

If you use your voice often, it is beneficial to warm up your voice before using it for extended periods of time. Some good warm-up activities are humming, trills, and simple scales.

If you are experiencing changes to your voice that last longer than 3 weeks, schedule an appointment with an otolaryngologist, also known as an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) doctor, as soon as possible. Your ENT will complete a laryngoscopy or videostroboscopy to view your vocal folds to diagnose the voice problem. Don’t forget to ask for a referral for a voice evaluation! SLPs are trained specialists to help individuals regain their voice and, in some cases, avoid surgeries.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie Brown, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS

Katie is the owner and founder of Neuro Speech Solutions. She is passionate about providing person-centered treatment to her clients in order to meet their life participation goals. Katie is dedicated to helping other SLPs provide functional therapy through affordable materials and education courses.

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